Apparatus and method for advancing objects to gauging slots



July l5, v1969 E. H. BEAZLEY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADVANCING OBJECTSTO GAUGING SLOTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1967 BY j//CL Kauf iisTTOPNE Y E. H. BEAZLEY Julyv 15, `1969 I APPARATUS AND METHOD FORADVANCING OBJECTS TO GAUGING SLOTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. s, 1967INVENTOR. Eon/Alep H. BEAZLEY af/c C, ALM/ E. H. BEAZLEY APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR ADVANCING OBJECTS TO GAUGING SLOTS July 15, 1969 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed sept. 5, 1967 SQL INVENTOR United States PatentOffice 3,455,446 Patented July 15, 1969 3,455,446 APPARATUS AND METHODFOR ADVANCING OBJECTS TO GAUGING SLOTS Edward H. Beazley, Towson, Md.,assignor to Burtons Seafood, Inc., a corporation of Virginia Filed Sept.5, 1967, Ser. No. 665,368 Int. Cl. B07c 5/04, 1/10; B07b 13/04 U.S. Cl.209-98 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE ciprocally rotatable in anarc through the gauging slot with alternate members reciprocating at 180out of phase with respect to the other members for dislodging andadvancing those objects larger than the gauging slot to the adjacentdownstream slot; the apparatus preferably having laterally drivenconveyor belts underlying each station for removing the objects sortedby the stations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates generally to the classifying, separating, and assorting ofsolids and more particularly to the assorting of solids by gauging slotsprovided with bars and rollers.

Description of the prior art Prior art devices are of many types,depending mostly on the kind of article to be sorted. Insofar as theyare pertinent to the present invention, it can be said that they aregenerally provided with a plurality of gaugingl pockets or slots ofvarying sizes through which articles of the same or smaller size arecaused to pass. The pockets are generally defined by a succession ofrotating parallel grooved rollers, subsequent pairs of which haveincreasingly larger grooves through which the increasingly largerobjects pass. Stockdale Patent No. 2,244,546 illustrates this type ofapparatus.

Gauging slots are usually defined by by a plurality of ungrooved rollersspaced parallel to each other at increasingly greater distances toprovide wider gauging slots downstream from a supply of the objects tobe sorted.

Generally the rollers forming the pockets or slots are rotatably drivenas a means of advancing the objects to the subsequently larger gaugingopenings. Some devices are provided with elaborate devices for removingobjects too large for the gauging pocket and advancing them to the nextlarger pocket as, for example, illustrated in Adams Patent No. 1,183,156and Laase Patent No. 2,830,703. Of`

the ones using rotating rollers for advancing the objects, some of themhave subsequent downstream rollers rotating faster in the same directionthan the preceding roll to help advance the object and to preventpinching of the object between the rollers. Apparatus of this type isillustrated in Hodecker Patent No. 2,370,539.

One common drawback to the use of the foregoing devices is that delicateobjects are likely to be damaged by the rotating rollers such as bypinching or crushing them and, in the case of fruits and vegetableshaving skins, rupturing or removing the skins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly an object of the present inventionis to provide a simplified assorting apparatus for sorting objects intogroups of a desired size range without damaging the objects.

The present invention provides a plurality of non-rotatingv gaugingrolls spaced to define succeedingly larger gauging slots. By utilizingstationary rolls, damage to the objects being sorted, such as pinching,crushing, and skinning, is thereby avoided. Thus, there is no tendencyfor the objects to become wedged between the rolls and suffer damagethereby.

To advance objects too large to -pass through one gauging slotdownstream to a larger slot, advancing bars are provided whichreciprocate in an arc through the gauging slots from a position beneaththe gauging rolls to a position above the slots. Preferably, alternateones of the advancing bars reciprocate in a forward or advancing motionas the others reciprocate backward from the advancing position. In thismanner, the objects are presented to a first slot for gauging and, iftoo large for the slot, will be advanced to the next larger slot untilit finally reaches a slot corresponding to its size. Because theadvancing bars accelerate from a standstill, the possibility of impactdamage is reduced.

Preferably, the gauging slots are arranged in groups of a given size toprovide the production capacity required or to compensate foroverfeeding. Thus, should more objects be presented to a first slot in agroup than can pass therethrough during advancing cycles of theadvancing bars, the remaining objects are merely advanced to the nextdownstream slot. The number of equal size slots in a group can be variedaccording to the type of object being sorted and the speed at which itis desirable for the machine to run.

A transversely extending conveyor under each group of gauging slots canbe used to great advantage for removing the sorted objects to a positionto the side of the machine where they can be easily handled. Forexample, the objects can thus be transported to containers at the endsof the conveyors or else to other conveyors leading to subsequenthandling operations or packaging.

Depending on the nature of the objects to be sorted, the first group ofgauging slots may be used to separate out objects too small for use orto separate dirt or debris fed to the machine along with the objects. Ifsome objects larger than a given size are not useful or if it is notdesirable to classify them, they can be passed out of the machine altthe downstream end beyond the last group of gauging s ots.

The present invention is particularly useful for sorting clams which aresomewhat fragile in some respects. By way of example, the drawings anddescription refer to apparatus for sorting large numbers of clams as aprefer-red embodiment of the invention although the apparatus may beused, or be readily adapted for use, for sorting a variety of objects.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willappear more fully from the following detailed description when the sameis read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are not intended as adefinition of the invention but are for the purpose of i1- lustrationonly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE l is a side elevation of apreferred embodiment of the invention diagramatically illustrating thegauging slots arranged in sorting groups and showing the relativepositions of the advancing bars at one end of their reciprocating cycleas well as the transverse conveyor positioned under the sorting groups;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the invenion of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along the line III- III in FIGURE 1illustrating the preferred gearing arrangement for reciprocating theadvancing bars through the gauging slots;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 3illustrating the driving arrangement for the gears of the advancingbars;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along the line V--V of FIGURE 3 showing thestationary rolls and advancing bars in greater detail;

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-section diagramatically illustrating thedrive mounting and linkage for driving the machine; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section taken along the line VII- VII of FIGURE 1diagramatically illustrating the arrangement of the transverseconveyors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGURE 1, thesorting apparatus for separating objects of a selected size from asupply of a mass of the objects comprises generally a sorting tablehaving a plurality of laterally extending pairs of annular parallelstationary rolls that define gauging slots therebetween. The slots rangein width, from a feed end of the table, from small to large. These slotscorrespond in width substantially to the thickness of the objects beingsized which pass through the slots while the oversize objects remainsupported bythe rolls'dening the slots. Advancing bars are provided forperiodically extending through the slots for advancing downstream theoversize objects supported on the rolls. The advancing bars are rotatedin an arc which passes from `beneath the rolls, and through the slots toa position above the rolls. Motor means and gears are provided forcyclically operating alternate ones of the bars in a rst direction andthe remaining bars in an opposite direction. A discharge means isprovided below the slots for receiving objects selectively separatedfrom the mass by the gauging slots, which slots may be arranged ingroups of the same size. The discharge means is preferably a driventransverse conveyor for carrying the graded objects beyond the side ofthe machine.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, more specically, the sorting machine isdivided into sorting groups A, B, C, and D for sorting a mass of objectssuch as clams into four grades. Feeding apparatus 10 is provided forfeeding the mass into group A which separates those objects of a givensize or smaller (grade 1) from the mass. Grade 1 objects pass throughgrading slots 12 defined by stationary rolls 14 and onto a transversedelivery conveyor assembly 15 which transports them outside the machine.The remainder of the mass is advanced to group B by advancing bars 16which reciprocate about stationary rolls 14 in an arc through thegrading slots 12 to the positions shown by the dotted lines. Arrows,shown only in group C, indicate the arc of travel of the advancing barsforward and backward through the grading slots. The other arrowsindicate the travel of graded objects through the grading slots and ontoand out of the conveyors as well as the advance of ungraded objectsthroughout the machine.

Objects of the next given size (grade 2) are separated from the mass ingroup B in a fashion similar to that described for group A. Thereafter,the remainder of the mass is likewise subjected to sorting in group C.Any 0bjects larger than the grading slots of group C are advanced to theend of the machine where they may be collected under the discharge chute18.

Feeding apparatus 10, FIGURES 1 and 2, comprises an endless conveyor 20surrounding a pair of pulley shafts 22 and 24 each rotatably mounted inspaced side frame portions 26a, 26b in a conventional manner. Pulleyshaft 24 is driven by a motor 28 through a drive belt 30 surrounding apair of pulley wheels 32 and 34 secured to the motor 28 and pulley shaft24 respectively. Motor 28 is conveniently mounted to frame 26h.

A hopper member 36 is secured to the frame members 26a, 26b by brackets(not shown) and extends across the upper run of conveyor 20 to prevent amass of objects placed on the conveyor from falling. Side guides 38a,38b are also provided along the lateral edges of conveyor 20 to retainthe mass on the conveyor.

Bridge plate `40 spans the space between conveyor 20 and the rst ofstationary rolls 14, being secured to side frames 26a, 26b in anyconvenient manner. The mass is thereby introduced gently into sortinggroup A.

The sorting groups A, B and C are substantially identical except for thedifference in size of the stationary rolls and advancing bars, so forthe purpose of brevity, only group A will be described in detail.

Sorting group A for the grade 1 objects comprises, as illustratedherein, five rolls 14 supported between frame portions 42a and 42h.Rolls 14 are spaced substantially equidistant to define four gradingslots 12 through which grade 1 objects may pass. The spacing is selectedin accordance with the size 0f the objects desired to pass through gradel and slots 12 as grade 1 objects.

Advancing bars 16 are provided for each slot 12 and are arranged toreciprocate through slots 12 in an arc about their respective rolls 14from a lower position to an upper position. Alternate .ones of bars 16are arranged to be in the lower position as the others are in the upperposition as indicated in FIGURE l. Grade 1 objects will fall throughalternate slots 12 when the bars 16 associated with those slots are inthe lower position. Objects too large to pass through slots 12 willremain supported in the upper portion of the slots by rolls 14. As bars16 reciprocate or oscillate, the ones in the lowermost position willrise thereby lifting oversize objects out of slots 12 and advance themdownstream. Simultaneously, the bars 16 in the uppermost position willrotate downward thereby opening the associated slot 12 to receiveobjects advanced from the preceding upstream slot.

Advancement of the objects is accomplished by rotating bars 16 in an arcabout the upstream side of their associated rolls 14. Thus, the liftingsurface 44 of each bar urges the oversize object in a downstreamdirection as it rises above the horizontal and continues to a point nearthe top of roll 14. Although not essential, it is helpful to inclineframe portions 42a, 52b downwardly toward the downstream end of themachine at an angle of, for example, 10 degrees. Consequently,downstream advancement of the mass is aided by gravity.

Sorting groups B and `C are similar in all respects to group A exceptthat slots 46 of group `B and slots 48 of group C (correspondinng toslots 12 in group A) are larger to accommodate the larger selectedgrades 2 and 3. Obviously, the thickness of group B advancing bars 50and group C advancing bars '52 should correspond to the greater widthsof slots 46 and 48 respectively. Preferably, group B rolls 54 and groupC rolls 56 are of succeedingly larger diameter than rolls 14 of group A.

This is particularly desirable in machines for sorting clams since thebi-valve dimension of the clam is the one being gauged for sortingpurposes. Thus, it is desirable to have the clam standing on edge in thegauging slot rather than bridging the slot. Obviously, the larger theroll diameter, the greater the distance between the vertical centerlinesof the rolls. So as the horizontal spacing between centerlines exceedsthe length of the clam, the less chance there is that bridging willoccur. The shorter spacing at the beginning of the machine, because ofthe smaller rolls, is helpful in advancing the larger clams since theytend t0 bridge. In this manner, they skid across the smaller rollsintsead of standing up in the slots with the need for dislodging by theadvancing bars. Of course, where the sorted objects are nearly round,the size of the roll bears no particular relation -to the width of thegauging slot.

Sorting group D for grade 4 objects comprises only discharge chute 18which guides all the objects larger than grade 3 into a container (notshown).

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, an intermediate slot 58 is provided betweenthe last downstream roll 14 of group A and the tirst upstream roll 54 ofgroup B. A similar slot 60 is provided between corresponding rolls ofgroups B and C. Advancing bars 62 and 64 associated with these slots areso arranged that their lowermost position lls the slots to preventpassage of objects therethrough. Upward travel of these bars advancesthe objects resting on their lifting surfaces 44 in the same manner asdescribed for the other lifting bars. This feature is not essential butis provided as a convenience of manufacture to leave a space between thecollection apparatus associated with the delivery conveyors 15 (to besubsequently described).

A preferred mounting and driving arrangement for the advancing bars isillustrated in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5. Conventional spur gears 66 aremounted for rotation about reduced diameter journal portions 68 on bothends of rolls 14 in group A for driving engagement with each other.Similar gears 70 and 72 (72 not shown) are similarly mounted to rolls 54and 56 of groups B and C respectively. Gears 66 and 70 of adjoininggroups A and B are engaged for rotation through intermediate gear 74,mounted for rotation about journal 76 of the rst upstream roll 54 ofgroup B, and gears 78 mounted for rotation about the respective journalsof the adjacent rolls 14 and 54. Gears 78 and 66 may be convenientlymade as an integral compound gear 80 and likewise gears 78 and 70 formcompound gear 82.

It can be seen that the advancing bar `62 that passes through slot 58 ismounted to the same roll S4 that carries the gear 74. By makingintermediate gear 74 approximately twice as large as the gear 78, itwill accordingly reciprocate in an arc about half the length of the arctraversed by the other advancing bars. In this manner, the slot S8 isnever fully opened as shown in FIGURE l. Similar gears (not shown) areprovided for connecting groups B and C for rotation and to reciprocateadvancing bar 64 through slot 60 in a short arc so as not to fully openthe slot.

Advancing bars 16 of group A are secured to gears 66 on both ends ofrolls 14 such as by screws 84, passing through the bars and threadedinto the gears as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus, reciprocation of the -gearscarries the advancing bars in an arc about their respective rolls. Rolls14 are held against rotation in frame portions 42a, 42h by set-screws 86threaded in the frame portions against journals 68. The rolls 54 and 56of groups B and C are likewise held against rotation. Advancing bars 50,52, 62, and 64 are secured to the respective gears of groups B and C inthe manner described for group A.

A clearance, although not essential, is preferably provided between theadvancing bars and the rolls by making the thickness of the barsslightly less than the spacing of the slots. Thus, wear of the rolls andbars is avoided such as might be caused by grit or other debrisassociated with the objects being sorted. When extremely fragile objectsare being sorted, the advancing bars may have a coating of softmaterial, such as polyurethane, bonded, or otherwise applied, thereto.Any impact damage tending to occur from the lifting of oversize objectsfrom the slots by the lifting bars can thus be damped. If preferred, therolls also may be similarly covered.

As previously indicated, the advancing bars reciprocate in an arcthrough their respective slots. A conventional linkage arrangement,FIGURES 4 and 6, is provided to translate rotary motion from a motor 88to reciprocating motion in the gears connecting the advancing bars forreciprocation. The linkage comprises a drive-shaft 90 supported inbearings 92 secured to frame portions 42a, 42h. Drive gears 94 aresecured for rotation with the shaft and in engagement with gears `66 oneach end of one of the rolls 14 of group A. (For convenience, FIGURE 4shows drive gears 94 engaging gears 70 of group B. Obviously, the drivegears may be engaged to any of the gears in the train provided theproper proportions are maintained.) The drive-shaft 90 is reciprocatedin an arc by a link 96 pivotably connected on its one end to an arm 98secured to the drive-shaft and on its other end to an arm 100 secured tothe motor output shaft 102. Arm 98 and one of the gears 94 may be usedto connect the link 96 with the arms 98 and 100. Thus, it can be seenthat as motor shaft 102 rotates, link 96 imparts reciprocating motion toarm 98, as shown yby the dotted lines in FIGURE 4, which is translatedto the gears 66 via drive-shaft 90 and drive gears 94.

FIGURE 5 shows the corresponding positions of the advancing bars 16, 62,and 50 of groups A and B and their respective directions of travel uponreciprocation of link 96 by motor 88. The bars 64 and bars 52 of group Coperate in a similar fashion as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, gearmotor 88 may be flange-mounted to frameportion 106b so that its output shaft 102 extends inwardly through theframe portion for connection with link 96 via arm 100. The proportionsof the arms and link are chosen in the known manner to achieve thelength of arc travel desierd for the advancing bars. For the presentinvention, an arc of approximately 160 degrees is satisfactory, beingsubstantially evenly divided into an 80 degree travel above and belowhorizontal. The length of arc may vary depending on the type of objectsbeing sorted. The gearmotor output speed is chosen to operate themachine at the desired speed, it being understood that the speed maynecessarily vary depending upon the nature of the objects being sorted.

Although drive gears 94 are illustrated as being about the same size asgears 70, they are preferably about twice the size of gears 70. Thus,gears 70 will reciprocate in an arc about twice the length of that 0fgears 94. This permits the arc for lever 98 to be about half of thatshown which is more etiicient in the type drive linkage described.

The transverse delivery conveyor assemblies 15 are all of similarconstruction. Accordingly, the following description of the assemblybeneath group C will suflice for all.

As viewed in FIGURES 2 and 7, grade 1 objects passing through gradingslots 48 fall upon an endless conveyor belt 108 surrounding a pair ofdriven pulleys 110 and 112 and are carried thereby to a discharge chuteassembly 114 outside thev machine. Pulleys 110 and 112 are supported forrotation in a conventional manner between a pair of spaced rail members116 and 118 which are secured to frame portions 120 and 122 with therails extending beyond frame portion 122 to support pulley 112. Agenerally flat support member 124 extends between, and is joined to, therails 116, 118 beneath the upper run of belt 108 to provide a rigidsupport for the upper run between the pulleys. A conventional belttightener (not shown) may be employed to maintain tension in the belt ifdesired.

A delivery hopper comprising sloped side members 126 and 128, asillustrated in FIGURE 1, are provided for guiding the graded objectsonto belt 108. These members may be suitably joined along their loweredges to the tops of rails 116 and 118 and their ends may likewise bejoined to frame portions 120 and 122. An end member 130 is also providedto prevent spillage of the graded objects from the conveyor belt 108near pulley 110. Member 130 is shaped to close the opening between sidemembers 126 and 128 and is joined thereto in a suitable manner.

Discharge chute 114 comprises a pan 132 pivotably connected to pulley112 by a pa-ir of hinges 134 connected to the edges of pan 132 andsurrounding pulley shaft 160 of pulley 112. Pan 132 slopes downward fromthe upper run of conveyor belt 108. The sides of chute 114 are formed bythe extending rails 116 and 118 and by extended portions 138 and 140 ofside members 126 and 128 respectively.

Suitable stops 141 secured to rails 116 and 118 limit the downward slopeof pan 132 to the position shown in FIGURE 7. However, the pan can bepivoted above horizontal to stop the flow of objects therefrom. Thispermits attendants collecting the graded objects to stop the ow ofobjects therefrom. This permits attendants collecting the graded objectsto stop the flow of objects from the pan 132 so that empty collectingcontainers can be substituted for filled ones. In the event that morecompletely Iautomatic operation is desired, the pan 132 may be raised byan air cylinder or the like (not shown) connected in a conventionalmanner to raise the pan when the collecting containers are filled. Theair cylinder may be activated by an electric eye set to be tripped bythe height of the objects in the container. Another means for activatingthe air cylinder would be to energize a weight-sensitive switch beneaththe containers.

All of the conveyor assemblies are driven by a line shaft 142 connectedto an electric motor 144 mounted to frame portion 146. The line shaft142 is supported by pillow block bearings 148 fastened to upstandingframe portions 150a, 150b, and 150C. The driven end of the shaft ispreferably connected to motor 144 through a gear box 152 which reducesthe speed of the motor to drive the conveyors at relatively slow speeds.

The pulleys 112 are driven from the line shaft 142 by roller chains 154surrounding sprockets 156 mounted to shaft 142 and sprockets 158 mountedto the pulley shaft 160 of pulleys 112 which extend through rail 118.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 7, guide rails 162a and 162b are providedadjacent the ends of the various advancing bars to retain the mass alongthe sorting path. The guide rails 162a, 162b preferably are formed tocover the various gears to prevent contamination by foreign matter. Theguide rails may be joined to the frame portions 42a, 42b by bolts or thelike (not shown).

The discharge chute 18 for group D, previously mentioned, extendslaterally across the width of the machine and is suitable secured toupstanding frame portions 150d. The chute preferably is sloped downwardaway from the last stationary roll 56 as shown.

OPERATION To operate the machine, the feed motor 28, advancing bar motor88, and conveyor motor 144 are all energized, from a suitable powersource (not shown), thereby activating the feed conveyor 10, theadvancing bars 16, 62, 50, 64, and 52, and the delivery conveyors 15. Amass of objects to be sorted is placed in front of hopper member 36 onthe feed conveyor 20 which immediately advances the mass downstreamwhere the objects slide over bridge plate 40 into the rst grading slot12. If the slot is open, those objects on the bottom of the mass havinga width equal to or less than the width of the slot will fall throughand be guided by side member 128 onto transverse conveyor belt 108.

If the first slot is fully closed by advancing bar 16, as indicated bythe dotted lines in FIGURE 1, all or part of the mass will rest againstthe advancing bar and roll 14. If the mass is large, part of it mayspill over the bar and into the next slot 12, which would then be open.When the iirst advancing bar moves to its lowermost position, theobjects of proper size, as indicated above, will fall through the slot.Those objects larger than slot 12 will remain in or near the slot, beingsupported by the first and second of rolls 14. Thereafter, bar 16 willrise and thereby lift the oversize objects out of the slot and urge themin a downstream direction over the second of rolls 14 and into thesecond of slots 12. The grading of grade 1 objects will continue in asimilar fashion throughout group A. By the time the mass reaches thelast of slots 12, all of the grade 1 objects will have been graded, thatis, they will have fallen through the slots and onto conveyor belt 108.

When the mass reaches slot 58, which is never fully opened, it merelyrests in the slot until the bar 62 lifts the objects and urges themdownstream in the same fashion as described above. When the mass entersgroup B, the grade 2 objects are graded in the same manner as those ingroup A. The remainder of the mass ungraded by group B will advance togroup C where grade 3 objects are sorted out. Any of the objects largerthan grade 3 will be advanced over the last of rolls 56 and down thechute 18. Obviously, all objects larger than grade 3 objects areclassified as grade 4 objects.

As the various grades of the objects fall from the grading slots, theydescend directly to the conveyor belts 108 or are guided onto it by sidemembers 126 and 128. The belts 108 carry the objects outside the machineand discharge them into the discharge chute 114 where they will slidedown pan 132 into suitable containers (not shown) provided forcollecting the graded objects. One or more attendants can supply emptycontainers and remove the filled ones. As previously mentioned, thedischarge of objects from pans 132 can be temporarily halted during thechange of containers. The discharge from chute 18 can be handled in alike manner. If desired, additional conveyors may be positioned so as toreceive the discharge of objects from pans 132 and carry them elsewherefor further processing.

Even though only the preferred construction of the invention has beendescribed, various modifications will, of course, be obvious to thoseskilled in the art. For example, if a mass is to be graded into just twosizes, only one pair of rolls, e.g. rolls 14, would be required alongwith one appropriate advancing bar. A small mass, or a small mass fedslowly into the grading slot, could be separated in this manner. Thenumber of grading groups is merely made commensurate with the number ofgrades desired. Similarly, the number of grading slots in the sortinggroup can be varied in accordance with the quantity and nature ofobjects to be sorted.

No integrally contained feed mechanism, such as feed apparatus 10, isrequired since the mass can be placed manually in the first sortinggroup. The mass can also be transported from a supply by a conveyor anddischarged directly into the first sorting group.

While the intermediate slots 58 and 60 have been illustrated in thepreferred embodiment, they are not essential. The mass can be advanceddirectly from one sorting group to the other. Suitably modilied conveyorassemblies 15 will maintain separation of the graded objects.

The conveyor assemblies 15 are preferred since the removal of collectingcontainers from within the machine would otherwise be very diflicult. Ifit is expedient, a simple inclined chute can be used in lieu of theconveyor assemblies. A water trough may replace the conveyor assemblies15 to handle extra delicate objects such astomatoes or other fruits.

As previously mentioned, the stationary rolls and advancing bars may beprovided with a soft covering when so required by the objects to begraded. The side members 126 and 128 may likewise be covered as well asthe Various discharge chutes.

Should the objects being sorted require cleaning, as clams often do, itmay be desirable to add a washing attachment above sorting group A. Suchan attachment could comprise, for example, a laterally extending pipehaving holes therein directed towards the mass for cascading water overthe objects. In this event, the discharge conveyor assembly could bemodified to catch the dirt and water with provision for draining thewater. Steam cleaning can likewise be employed or air drying of wetobjects fed to the machine.

Although the advancing bars have been illustrated as being driven by amotor through suitable gears, if desired, a linkage arrangement ofeasily calculated proportions driven by a reciprocating hydraulic or airactuator can be satisfactorily employed.

As an example of the operation of this invention, the machine of thetype disclosed in FIGURE 1 was used to sort clams. Previously, clams hadto be sorted by hand which is a tedious and laborous operation. Themachine used differed from the machine illustrated in FIGURE 1 in that,instead of the sorting groups illustrated, the machine used had vesorting groups, each having grading slots for separating a mass into sixgrades. The eiective width of the machine was approximately 60 inches.The speed of the feed belt was about l2 feet per minute with theadvancing bars reciprocating at 20 cycles per minute. The dischargebelts moved at 35 feet per minute. Under the above conditions, themachine sorted 75 bushels of assorted clams per hour with 3 attendantsrequired to run the machine, one feeding the machine and two handlingthe sorted clams. To sort the same quantity of clams manually in onehour would require nine attendants. Thus, considerable savings in laborcosts are realized by using the machine. It should be understood thatthe quantity sorted by both men and machine will vary according to thesize range of clams being sorted. Where the majority of the mass islarge, less time will be required per unit volume. Conversely, when themajority is smaller, more time will be required. The figures given 4areapproximately average.

Having thus described the invention in its best embodiment and mode ofoperation, what is desired to be claimed by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. Sorting apparatus for separating objects of a selected size from anupstream supply of a mass of said objects, comprising:

a support;

a pair of parallel stationary members extending transversely across saidsupport and spaced apart on said support a distance that defines anelongated gauging discharge slot whose width corresponds to thethickness of said objects of selected size so that said objects ofselected size may pass therethrough and which has an entrance portionfor supporting oversize objects;

advancing means for periodically extending through said slot toward saidentrance portion for advancing said oversize objects downstream fromsaid slot; and

drive means for periodically operating said advancing means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said advancing means comprises amember smaller than said slot that moves in an arc about one of saidpair of parallel stationary members for moving said oversize objectsdownstream.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, and in addition:

a plurality of said parallel stationary stationary members arrangedparallel to each other in operative sequence to provide a plurality ofgauging slots the width of which becomes progressively larger downstreamfrom said supply for forming sizing groups for separating progressivelylarger selected sizes of said objects from said mass; and

an advancing means for each of said gauging slots.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said sizing groups has aplurality of said slots of equal size with corresponding advancing meanswhereby larger quantities of each of said selected sizes may beseparated from said mass.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 including an intermediate pair of saidstationary members for providing an intermediate gauging slot forseparating one sizing group from the other and an intermediate advancingmeans within said intermediate slot periodically operative to extendinto said entrance portion for advancing objects supported in saidentrance portion,

whereby said mass is advanced progressively downstream from sizing groupto sizing group.

r6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein cyclic means are provided forcyclically operating said advancing means and said intermediateadvancing means with alternate ones of such means rising toward saidentrance portions as the remaining ones descend toward said dischargeportions,

said cyclic means including a spur gear on each of said advancing meansand said intermediate advancing means in operative engagement with spurgears on adjacent advancing and intermediate advancing means,

said intermediate advancing means gears lbeing approximately twice thediameter of said advancing means gears whereby said intermediateadvancing means travel through an arc approximately half the distancetraveled by said advancing means so that said intermediate slots are notfully opened to prevent said objects from passing therethrough; and

motor means operatively connected to one of said gears for cyclicallyoperating alternate ones of said gears in a first direction and theothers of said gears in an opposite direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein cyclic means are provided forcyclically operating said advancing means members through said slotswith alternate ones of said advancing means rising toward said entranceportions as the remaining ones descend toward said discharge portions,

whereby oversize objects supported by said entrance portions areadvanced downstream from alternate slots toward succeeding slots beingopened to receive said objects.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, and in addition:

a feed means adjacent the most upstream of said sizing groups forfeeding a mass of said objects placed thereon toward said sizing groups.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, and in addition:

discharge means for receiving objects selectively separated from saidmass by said sizing groups.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said discharge `means comprises atransverse conveyor beneath each of said sizing groups operative tocarry said selectively separated objects to a place adjacent a side ofsaid apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said transverse conveyor includesa discharge chute for receiving said selectively separated objects fromsaid conveyor.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said cyclic means includesa spur gear in operative engagement with spur gears on adjacent upstreamand downstream advancing means members and motors means operativelyconnected to one of said gears for cyclically operating alternate onesof said gears in a rst direction and the others of said gears in anopposite direction.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said advancing means memberscyclically operate through an arc of approximately 16() degrees.

14. Apparatus for sorting objects according to size, comprising:

a sorting table having a plurality of laterally extending stationarygauging slots that range in width from small to large from a feed end ofsaid table whereby objects of smaller size than said slots tend to passthrough said slots whereas objects larger than said slots do not passtherethrough;

ejecting mean movable between said slots for ejecting from said slotsthose objects that do not pass therebetween; and

means for supplying said objects to said feed end of said ta-ble.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said table is inclined downwardfrom said feed end of said table.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said slots are defined by pairs ofannular parallel stationary members providing entrance portions for saidslots for supporting l l objects too large to pass through said slotsand said ejecting means comprises an advancing member for each slotperiodically operative to extend through said slots for advancingdownstream said objects supported in said entrance portions.

17. Apparatus for sorting objects according to size comprising:

an elongated support having an upstream end and a downstream end, a feedat the upstream end for feeding said objects to said support, aplurality of sizing groups spaced between said ends for removing objectsof selected size, each of said sizing groups including at least one pairof stationary members extending transversely across said support, saidstationary members being substantially circular in cross-section andbeing spaced apart a distance to dene a slot corresponding to thedesired size of the portion of objects to be sorted, whereby objectshaving the desired or smaller size fall through said slot whereasobjects larger than the desired size tend to bridge said slot and remainon said stationary members, an advancing bar rotatable through an arcabout the downstream one of said pair of stationary members and throughthe slot between said stationary members for advancing objects tendingto remain on said stationary members downstream, and means for rotatingsaid avancing bar through said arc,

each of said groups also including means below said slot for recevingthe objects of desired size that pass through said slot.

13. A method for sorting objects according to size which comprises:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1961 Troyer 209-106 9/1966Smith 209-98 M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner R. A. SCHACHER,Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

